§61-11-16. Term of imprisonment for felony; indeterminate
sentence.
Every sentence to the penitentiary of a person convicted of a
felony for which the maximum penalty prescribed by law is less than
life imprisonment, except offenses committed by convicts in the
penitentiary punishable under chapter sixty-two, article eight,
section one of the code, shall be a general sentence of
imprisonment in the penitentiary. In imposing this sentence, the
judge may, however, designate a definite term, which designation
may be considered by the board of probation and parole as the
opinion of the judge under the facts and circumstances then
appearing of the appropriate term recommended by him to be served
by the person sentenced. Imprisonment under a general sentence
shall not exceed the maximum term prescribed by law for the crime
for which the prisoner was convicted, less such good time allowance
as is provided by sections twenty-seven and twenty-seven-a, article
five, chapter twenty-eight of this code, in the case of persons
sentenced for a definite term. Every other sentence of
imprisonment in the penitentiary shall be for a definite term or
for life, as the court may determine. The term of imprisonment in
jail, where that punishment is prescribed in the case of conviction
for felony, shall be fixed by the court.